A microscope consisting of an objective and and eyepieve at opposite ends of an adjustable tube that utilizes a combination of lenses to produce an image

Term

Objective lenes

Definition

The lens or system of lenses in a telescope or microscope that is nearest the object being viewed

Term

10x setting

Definition

low power lens. used for scanning the slide

Term

40x setting

Definition

high dry lens, used for viewing fungus, parasites, and cells

Term

100x setting

Definition

oil immersion lens, used to differentiate bacteria and cytology and confirm the morphology of cells

Term

4x

Definition

scanning lens

Term

50x

Definition

low oil immersion lens

Term

Morphology

Definition

The form and structure of an organism or one of its parts

Term

Cytology

Definition

the study of the microscopic appearance of cells, esp. for the diagnosis of abnormalities and malignancie

Term

Hematology

Definition

The science of the blood and blood-producing organs

Term

Histology

Definition

the anatomical study of the microscopic structure of animal and plant tissues

Term

Microbiology

Definition

the branch of biology that deals with microoganisms and their effects on other living organisms

Term

Pathology

Definition

The scientific study of the nature of desease and its causees, processes, development, and consequences

Term

Parasitology

Definition

The scientific study of parasitism

Term

Parasitism

Definition

A relation between organisms in which on lives as a parasite on another

Term

Exudate

Definition

A fluid that has exuded out of a tissue or its capillaries due to injury or inflammation

Term

Centrifuge

Definition

An apparatus consisting essentially of a compartment spun about a central axis to separate contained materials of different desities, or to sperate colloidal particles suspended in a liquid

Term

Sediment

Definition

Solid portion of sample

Term

Supernatant liquid

Definition

Fluid portion of sample

Term

Microhematocrit centrifuge

Definition

Holds smaller capillary tubes

Term

Clinical or standard centrifuge

Definition

Can hold various sizes of test tubes

Term

Relative centrifugal force or RCF

Definition

AKA G-force: a force acting ona body as a result of acceleration or gravity, informally described in units of acceleration equal to one g.

Term

Formula for determining RCF

Definition

RCF=1.18 x 10^-5 x r x rpm^2

Term

Refractometer

Definition

AKA the Total Solids Meter, is an optical insturment that utilizes light waves to view the refraction and measure the refractive index of a solution

Term

Refraction

Definition

The turning or bending of any wave, such as light or sound wave, when it passes from on medium into another of different density

Term

Refractive index

Definition

a measure of how much the speed of light is reduced inside the medium; the refractive index of a sample shows tha concentration of solid particles in the sample, thus indicating protein concentrations.

Term

Solute

Definition

A substance dissolved in another substance, usually the component of a solution present in the lesser amount

Term

Aqueous solution

Definition

A solution where the solvent is water

Term

Specific gravity

Definition

ratio of the mass of a solid or liquid to the mass of an equal volume of distilled water at 39F (4C)

Term

Normal canine specific gravity

Definition

1.018 g/ml to 1.045 g/ml

Term

Normal feline specific gravity

Definition

1.020 g/ml to 1.040 g/ml

Term

Total protein or serum protein

Definition

AKA total serum protein and total plasma protein: a biochemical test for measuring the total percentage of protein in blood or plasma or serum; concentrations below the reference rage usually reflect low albumin concentration

Term

Albumin

Definition

The most prevalent blood pretein; responsible for actually keeping water in one's bloodstream. Main protein veterinary patients cannot afford to lose

Term

Chemistry Analyzers

Definition

Measure routine blood chemistries and electrolytes

Term

Hematology analyzers

Definition

Measure blood parameters such as the complete blood count (CBC)

Term

Photometry

Definition

the measurement of the intesity, brightness, or other properties of light; in veterinary science, a photometer is used.

Term

Spectrophotometers

Definition

Measure the amount of light transmittedd through a solution

Term

Electrochemical

Definition

The branch of chemistry that deals with the chemical changes produced by electricity and the production of electricity by chemical changes

Term

Impedance alanyzers

Definition

These are electronic cell counters that operate based on teh passage of electric current that have been adapted from their human form for use with various animal species as blood cell sizes vary between animal species

Term

Laser-based analyzers

Definition

These systems utilize laser beams that are scattered off of cells and their degree of direction of light facilitates the counting of monocytes, lymphocytes, granulocytes, and erythrocytes.

Term

Quantitative buffy coat (QBC) analyzers

Definition

These systems estimate cell numbers instead of providing an accurate reading; thus, they area best used for screening.

Term

Buffy coat

Definition

The layer of material above the packe erythrocytes after centrifugation; consists primarily of leukocytes (WBC) and thrombocytes

Term

Serology

Definition

The science that deals with the properties and reactions of serums, especially blood serum; the characteristics of disease or organism shown by study of blood serums

Term

Stains

Definition

Used to stain the cells of a sample on a slide so they can be viewed under a microscope

Term

Polychromatic

Definition

Haveing exhibiting many colors

Term

Reagent

Definition

Substance used in a chemcial reaction to detect, measure, examine, or produce other substances

Term

Fleas

Definition

Most common skin parasite in both dogs and cats. They are prolific, meaning they produce in large quanitites and at great frequency.

Term

Intermediate host

Definition

Is a life form where a parasite grows but does not reach sexual maturity

Term

Definitive host

Definition

Is a life form where a parasite reaches sexual maturity

Term

Pediculosis

Definition

state of being infested with lice

Term

Three lifes stages of lice

Definition

Nits:initial egg stageNymphal stageAdult stage

Term

Sarcoptes scabiei mites AKA mange mites and Scabies mites

Definition

Produce a condition called sarcoptic mange

Term

Notoedres cati mites

Definition

infest mailny cats but will occasionally infest rabbits as well

Term

Octoectes cynotis mites

Definition

ear mites, commonly seen in dogs, cats, and ferrets

Term

Demodex mange mites

Definition

most commonly found in the hair fillicles of dogs, these mites can also infest humans and felines as well as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and horses

Term

Cheyletiella mites

Definition

Are white and are large enough to be visible to the naked eye unlike other mites

Term

Trombicula mites

Definition

commonly referred to as harvest mites or chiggars, these parasites are usually visible as yellow, orange, or red specks on the faces of dogs and cats

fragment RBCs that are smaller than normal RBCs (resulting from trauma, heartworms, coagulation disorders, disease of the liver or spleen)

Term

RBC Morphology:Spereocytes

Definition

RBCs that are abnormally round and unable to hold discoid shape (indicative of immune hemolytic anemias)

Term

RBC Morphology:Crenation

Definition

Irregularly shaped RBCs with even projections cause by "technician error"

Term

RBC Morphology:Polychromasia

Definition

Varying degrees of color of the RBCs (normal or abnormal)

Term

RBC Morphology:Central pallor or paleness

Definition

Normal color for mature RBC

Term

RBC Morphology:Hypochromasia

Definition

RBCs with varying degrees of lack of central pallor. Since they lack color, they lack Hgb and the cell's ability to carry oxygen

Term

RBC Morphology:Stomatocytes

Definition

RBCs that have an elongated (mouth-like) area of the central pallor; this type of cell might be seen in regenerative anemias, liver disease, and lead poisoning. Stomatocytes can also be an artifact in a blood smear that is too thick

Term

RBC Morphology:Heinz Bodies

Definition

Portions fo denatured Hgb in RBCs; in veterinary medicine Heinz bodies are associated with the consumption of onions by cats, dogs, and various primates, and a symptom of acetaminphen poisoning in cats

Deal with defense against bacterial or fungal infection and other very small inflammatory processes and are usually first responders to microbial infection; their activity and death in large numbers forms pus

Term

Basophils

Definition

Chiefly responsible for allergic and antigen response by releasing the chemical histamine causing inflammation. The nucleus can be bi-lobed or tri-lobed. They are characterized by their large blue granules

Term

Eosinophils

Definition

Usually seen in higher amounts in the circulating blood when the body is experiencing an allergic reaction lika a reaction to a bee sting, or allergic reaction to food.Eosinophils are also seen with parasitic infections. Eosinophils are easily identified since they have granules in their cytoplasm that pick up the eosinophil stain and appear as a neutrophil with pink dots

Term

Monocytes

Definition

Are the largest of teh mature WBCs and their main function of phagocytosis; they engulf dead cell debris, microorganisms and pathogens in the blood system via food vacuoles in the cytoplasm. They can recognize a pathogen and initiate and antibody response from the bone marrow

Term

Lymphocytes

Definition

Are seen in circulating blood but are mostly found in the lymph nodes or lymphatic system. Lymphocytes are identified by a large, dense nucleus which stains dark purple, and have a small amount of cytoplasm. These cells have a memory system that allow them to remember the pathogen, or microorganism and help to create immunity to them

Term

Macrophages

Definition

Once monocytes move fromthe bloodstream out into the body tissues, they undergo changes (differentiate) allowing phagocytosis and are then known as macrophages. They are the largest of teh WBCs and contain many vacuoles in their cytoplasm that engulf debris of waste from other cell tissues

Term

Vacuoles

Definition

A small cavity in the cytoplasm of a cell, boung by a single membrane and containing water, food, or metabolic waste

Term

Phagocytosis

Definition

Cellular process of engulfing solid particles by the cell membrane to form an internal phagosome, or "food vacuole"

Term

Platelets AKA thrombocytes

Definition

Very important in clotting or hemostasis. They also produced by the bone marrow. They are very tiny and their cytoplasm stains purple.

Puncture of the bladder for the purpose of obtaining an uncontaminated urine sample. Also called vesicopuncture

Term

Urinalysis

Definition

The examination of urine

Term

Pollakiuria

Definition

Frequent urination

Term

Polyuria

Definition

Increased urine production

Term

Oliguria

Definition

Abnormally small production of urine

Term

Colors of urine and what they could indicate

Definition

Yellow to amber-normal urinepale yellow-low specific gravity, low concentration of urinedarker yellow-high specific gravity, high urine concentrationbrown/green:bile pigmentred/brown:hematuria, which is the presence of blood in the urineorange:presence of drugs such as tetracyclinebrown:may contain myoglobin which is excreted during strenuous conditions that casue muscle cell lysis

Term

Myoglobin

Definition

An iron-containing proteitn found in muscle fibers, consisting of heme connected to a single peptide chain that resembles one of the subunits of hemoglobin.

Term

Lysis

Definition

The gradual recession of a disease

Term

Turbid or flocculent urine

Definition

Can be caused by contaminates fromthe sample container or contamination with feces

Term

Turbid

Definition

having sediment or foreign particles stirred up or suspended; muddy; cloudy

Term

Flocculent

Definition

Containing numerous shreds or fluffly particles of grayish or white mucus or other material; used of a fluid such as urine

Term

Bile

Definition

A yellowish-green liquid secreted by the liver

Term

Polydipsia

Definition

Excessive or abnormal thirst

Term

Pyometra

Definition

An accumulation of pus in the uterine cavity

Term

Psychogenic polydipsia

Definition

excessive thirst caused by a mental disorder

Term

Urinometer

Definition

a hydrometer for measuring the specific gravity of urine; contains two parts-a free-standing vessel similar to a test tube with a base and a float containting a specific gravity scale.

Term

Assay

Definition

To examine or analyze

Term

Bilirubin

Definition

A red bile pigment derived fromthe degradation of hemoglobin during the normal and abnormal destruction of red blood cells